Page 233 of Come Back to Me

I snag a hold of her hand. “Then it’s a good thing you’ve staked a claim, isn’t it?”

She looks up at me, all big eyes and parted lips I need to devour. “I-I have?”

“Sure. Or maybe I staked the claim for you.”

“Where did the claim land?” Her feet turn toward me, narrowing the space between us by a foot.

Eyes locked on hers, I tap over my heart.

“E-Even though we’re keeping things on the down-low?”

“I’m still working my way back into your good graces.”

“Don’t do things like today, then.” She pats my chest. “It might have been sexy as fuck, but you definitely knocked five years off my life.”

I tsk. “More debts accrued. I want those five years back.”

She swallows. Hard. “We shouldn’t talk about this stuff.”

“Why not?”

“Because…”

Her words wane and I want to curse because the elevator doors open, triggering a natural segue in our conversation. She twists around to stare at the apartment ahead, her cheeks pale now but her eyes glitter.

“Wow! Now I’m glad we didn’t have truck sex!”

Before she can get excited or overwhelmed or anything else, I scoop her into my arms. Her shriek cascades into giggles that have me grinning as I toss her over my shoulder, ass side up.

When my hand connects with that peachy tush of hers, she squeals. “Cody!”

“I warned you,” I tell her unrepentantly.

“It’ll hit better if you take off my skirt first.”

I pause on my way to the main bedroom. “You have the best fucking ideas, my clever girl.”

A shaky moan escapes her. “Feel free to use the Dirty Cody tone on me.”

“The Dirty what?” I query as I continue my stalking into the bedroom.

“Never mind!” She bucks, and it’s a testament to the difference in our heights that she manages to nip my ass.

Not that it stings through the jeans I’m wearing, but I have to slap her butt again for the audacity.

Tee shrieks but chuckles as I twist her over once more and plop her onto the bed.

She lands with a couple bounces, her eyes gleaming with delight, no longer glittering with whatever she was feeling in the elevator. I loved seeing her all vulnerable and open to me, but I much prefer her when she’s mischievous.

That’s Tee—brain forever racing a mile a minute.

She scrabbles onto her knees and looks at me expectantly. “Where do you want me?”

“Over my knees,” I growl.

Delight sharpens, twists, and slides into eagerness, but she wouldn’t be Tee if she didn’t argue. “Is this really fair? I had to defend your honor.”

“I had no honor to defend and I didn’t need you to get involved. If I was going to go easy on that sweet peach of yours, that decides it.” I sit on the edge of the mattress and spread my thighs. “Come on, lie over my lap.”

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